Relic Basics 101: What Are Main Stats, Sub Stats, And Set Effects?

Imagine getting your first 5-star Relic, only to stare at a messy stat page full of unfamiliar terms and feel totally lost. This is a rite of passage for every new Honkai Star Rail player. Unfortunately, many new players waste tons of resources and time early on just because they don’t understand the basic mechanics of the Relic system. Meanwhile, players who grasp the core concepts of main stats, sub stats, and set effects can already build powerful characters with the limited resources they have. This guide starts from absolute basics, breaking down the three core elements of the Relic system in plain, easy-to-understand terms, so you can build a solid foundation of gear knowledge to work from for all your future advanced builds.

Quick Overview: This guide will walk through the basic structure of Relics, break down how main and sub stats work, explain the unique traits of each Relic slot, cover how set bonuses work, and give you practical Relic leveling strategies for new players.

Basic Structure Of The Relic System: Core Components Explained

In Honkai Star Rail, Relics are one of the most important systems for powering up your characters. Every character can equip 6 Relics across 6 different slots, and together these Relics determine your character’s base stats and special abilities. According to community data, a well-built set of Relics can increase a character’s overall combat power by 200% to 300%.

Full Breakdown Of Relic Slots: Unique Roles For Each Position

Each of the 6 Relic slots has a unique purpose and stat bias, as outlined below:

Head

• Fixed main stat: Health Points
• Provides base survivability
• Works for every character
• Should be prioritized for upgrades by new players

Hand

• Fixed main stat: Attack
• Provides base damage output
• Is a critical slot for damage dealers
• Look for crit rate and crit damage on sub stats

Body

• Changeable main stat
• Core source of key stats
• Primary slot for crit rate and crit damage
• Is the most important slot for build customization

Feet

• Changeable main stat
• Primary source of Speed
• Critical for determining turn order
• Is a core slot for support characters

Planar Sphere

• Changeable main stat
• Provides damage bonuses for specific elements
• Critical for boosting damage output
• Needs to match your character’s element

Link Rope

• Changeable main stat
• Can roll Energy Regeneration Rate
• Can roll Attack Percentage
• Offers flexible utility for different builds

Relic Rarity And Leveling: Growth Path From 3-Star To 5-Star

Relics come in three rarity tiers: 3-star, 4-star, and 5-star, with maximum level caps of 12, 15, and 15 respectively. 5-star Relics have the highest base stats and can roll more sub stats, making them the endgame goal for all players.

The Three Core Concepts Of The Relic System

Main Stat: Every Relic has exactly one fixed main stat, which determines the core purpose and build direction of the piece.

Sub Stats: These are randomly generated extra stat bonuses that improve every time you level up the Relic.

Set Bonus: A special effect that triggers when you equip 2 or 4 pieces from the same Relic set.

How They Work Together: Main stats set your core build foundation, sub stats fine-tune your performance, and set bonuses define your build playstyle.

Deep Dive Into Main Stats: The Key That Defines Your Character Build

Main stats are the most core attribute of any Relic, and they determine what characters and playstyles that piece is suited for.

Fixed Main Stat Slots: Consistent Foundation From Head And Hand

Head and Hand Relics always have the same main stat, which gives you a consistent base to build around:

• Head: Fixed Health main stat, provides consistent survivability for any character
• Hand: Fixed Attack main stat, provides a solid base for all damage output
• Strategy Takeaway: These two slots should be prioritized for upgrades early in the game, as they always give consistent, reliable stat gains

Variable Main Stat Slots: The Source Of Build Customization

The four slots of Body, Feet, Planar Sphere, and Link Rope all have random variable main stats, which is what makes diverse builds possible:

List Of Available Main Stats By Slot

Body Slot: Health Percentage, Attack Percentage, Defense Percentage, Outgoing Healing Boost, Crit Rate, Crit Damage, Effect Hit Rate

Feet Slot: Health Percentage, Attack Percentage, Defense Percentage, Speed

Planar Sphere Slot: Health Percentage, Attack Percentage, Defense Percentage, Elemental Damage Boost (Physical, Fire, Ice, Lightning, Wind, Quantum, Imaginary)

Link Rope Slot: Health Percentage, Attack Percentage, Defense Percentage, Break Effect, Energy Regeneration Rate

Recommended Main Stats By Character Type

• Main DPS
  • Body: Crit Rate / Crit Damage
  • Feet: Attack Percentage / Speed
  • Planar Sphere: Elemental Damage Boost Percentage
  • Link Rope: Attack Percentage
• Survival Support / Preserver
  • Body: Health Percentage / Defense Percentage
  • Feet: Speed / Health Percentage
  • Planar Sphere: Health Percentage / Defense Percentage
  • Link Rope: Energy Regeneration Rate
• Healer
  • Body: Outgoing Healing Boost
  • Feet: Speed
  • Planar Sphere: Health Percentage
  • Link Rope: Energy Regeneration Rate
• Debuffer
  • Body: Effect Hit Rate
  • Feet: Speed
  • Planar Sphere: Elemental Damage Boost Percentage
  • Link Rope: Attack Percentage / Energy Regeneration Rate

Sub Stat Mechanism Explained: Making Strategic Choices With Randomness

Sub stats are the random element of the Relic system, and they’re the key difference between a mediocre piece and a god-tier perfect Relic.

Sub Stat Generation Rules: Full Process From Drop To Level Up

5-star Relics follow specific rules for how their sub stats are generated and upgraded:

• Initial Sub Stats: A 5-star Relic drops with 3 or 4 random sub stats
• Upgrade Nodes: A sub stat gets an upgrade every 3 levels (at +3, +6, +9, +12, +15)
• New Sub Stat Mechanic: A Relic that drops with only 3 initial sub stats will unlock a 4th sub stat when it reaches +3
• Upgrade Rule: The game randomly selects one existing sub stat to upgrade each time you hit a new node

Sub Stat Types And Stat Ranges

Attack-Focused: Flat Attack (16-23), Attack Percentage (3.2%-4.8%), Crit Rate (2.4%-3.6%), Crit Damage (4.8%-7.2%)

Defense-Focused: Flat Defense (16-23), Defense Percentage (4.0%-6.0%), Effect Resistance (3.2%-4.8%)

Survival-Focused: Flat Health (32-46), Health Percentage (3.2%-4.8%)

Utility: Speed (2-3), Break Effect (4.8%-7.2%), Effect Hit Rate (3.2%-4.8%)

How To Value Sub Stats: Evaluating A Relic’s Potential

These are the key metrics to use when judging how good a Relic is:

• Number of Useful Sub Stats: How many sub stats match what your character actually needs
• Initial Number of Sub Stats: A Relic that drops with 4 sub stats is always better than one that drops with 3
• Roll Value: How high the random roll is each time you upgrade a sub stat
• Upgrade Direction: Whether upgrades keep landing on your key useful sub stats

Relic Leveling Strategy Guide

Early Game (New Player Phase): Any Relic with a correct main stat is worth upgrading, prioritize getting Head and Hand to +12 first

Mid Game (Transition Phase): Focus on upgrading Relics that start with 4 sub stats or 3 useful sub stats

End Game (Build Finalization Phase): Only upgrade Relics that start with 4 useful sub stats, and aim for perfect stats

Resource Management Tip: Test a new Relic by upgrading it to +3 first, then decide whether to keep investing based on where the upgrade lands

Relic Set Bonuses: Going From Good Pieces To A Great Build

Set bonuses are the soul of the Relic system, and the right set combination can completely transform a character’s performance.

How Set Bonuses Are Activated

1. 2-Piece Set Bonus

   Activated when you equip 2 pieces from the same set, usually provides a simple base stat boost.

2. 4-Piece Set Bonus

   Activated when you equip 4 pieces from the same set, provides a powerful unique effect or mechanic that shapes your build.

3. 2+2 Hybrid Combination

   Mixing two 2-piece sets from different sets to get the exact stats you need with more flexibility.

4. Planar Ornaments

   A standalone 2-piece set system for Planar Sphere and Link Rope that stacks with your regular Relic set bonuses.

Best Recommended Sets For New Players: A Growth Path From General To Specialized

For new players, these sets are great starting options:

• Musketeer of Wild Wheat
  • 2-Piece Bonus: Attack +12%
  • 4-Piece Bonus: Speed +6%, Basic Attack damage +10%
  • Best For: Most damage dealers
  • New Player Recommendation Rating: 5/5
• Passer of Wandering Cloud
  • 2-Piece Bonus: Outgoing Healing +10%
  • 4-Piece Bonus: Regain 1 Skill Point immediately at the start of battle
  • Best For: Healer characters
  • New Player Recommendation Rating: 4.5/5
• Knight of Purity Palace
  • 2-Piece Bonus: Defense +15%
  • 4-Piece Bonus: Shield strength +20%
  • Best For: Preservation (shielder) characters
  • New Player Recommendation Rating: 4.5/5
• Eagle of Twilight’s Edge
  • 2-Piece Bonus: Wind damage +10%
  • 4-Piece Bonus: Advanced forward action after using Ultimate
  • Best For: Wind damage dealers
  • New Player Recommendation Rating: 3.5/5

Set Selection Strategy: Customize Your Gear Based On Character Role

Here are the key factors to consider when choosing a Relic set:

• Character Role: DPS, survival, and support characters all have sets that fit them best
• Skill Mechanics: Does the set bonus synergize well with the character’s kit?
• Stat Requirements: Do the stats the set provides match what the character needs?
• Acquisition Difficulty: As a new player, pick easy-to-get general use sets first

Relic Growth Path By Trailblaze Level

Trailblaze Level 20-30: Use 4-star Relics, any piece with a correct main stat works fine

Trailblaze Level 30-40: Transition to 5-star Relics, and start paying attention to set bonuses

Trailblaze Level 40-50: Finalize your 5-star sets, and start optimizing sub stats

Trailblaze Level 50+: Grind for perfect sub stats, and focus on building specialized sets for your favorite characters

Practical Guide For New Players: Avoid Common Mistakes And Level Relics Efficiently

If you’re just learning the Relic system, following the right progression path will save you from wasting valuable resources.

New Player Relic Leveling Checklist

✅ Prioritize upgrading Head and Hand Relics to +9 or +12 first

✅ A correct main stat is more important than matching a full set

✅ Use 2+2 set combinations to make building easier early on

✅ Don’t chase perfect sub stats too early in the game

✅ Manage your Trailblaze Fuel wisely, prioritize farming the sets you need most first

✅ Always keep Relics with Speed sub stats, they’re always useful later

Resource Management Strategy: How To Use Fuel And Self-Modeling Wax Wisely

Here are our top tips for managing resources as a new player:

• Using Fuel: Save most of your Fuel to use after you hit Trailblaze Level 40 for better drop rates and higher returns
• Self-Modeling Wax: Save this material for late game, when you need to craft a specific key Relic piece
• Relic Exp: Use low-star Relics as experience fodder to avoid wasting credits
• Relic Disassembly: Only break down truly useless Relics, keep pieces with potential for future builds

Common Mistake Alert: Don’t force a 4-piece set bonus by using Relics with wrong main stats. A 2+2 combination with a Crit Damage Body and Attack% Planar Sphere is always far better than a 4-piece set where most pieces have bad main stats. Getting the main stat right is always the first priority.

Frequently Asked Questions About Relic Basics

Which Relic slots should new players upgrade first?

As a new player, you should prioritize upgrading Head and Hand Relics first. These slots have fixed main stats, so you always get consistent, reliable returns from upgrading them. Next, focus on Body and Feet Relics that have the correct main stat. You can wait to invest heavily in Planar Sphere and Link Rope until you get 5-star versions of those pieces.

Which is more important: main stats or sub stats?

Early in the game, having the correct main stat is far more important than having great sub stats. A Body piece with Attack% main stat, even if all its sub stats are useless, is still better for a DPS than a Body piece with wrong main stat and perfect sub stats. Main stats determine whether the piece is usable at all, while sub stats just determine how good it can be once it’s already usable.

When is the best time to start farming Relics?

We recommend waiting until you hit Trailblaze Level 40 before you start farming Relics heavily. At that level, Relic domains have a consistent chance to drop 5-star Relics. Before level 40, you can just use the Relics you get from the main story, quests, and Simulated Universe to progress, and save your Fuel for later to avoid wasting it.

How do I tell if a Relic is worth upgrading?

Use this four-part criteria to judge: 1. Does it have the correct main stat? 2. Does it start with 3 or 4 sub stats? 3. Does it have at least 2-3 useful sub stats for your character? 4. Does it have any key priority sub stats like Speed, Crit Rate, or Crit Damage? If it meets the first two criteria, it’s worth upgrading to +6 or +9 to see how it upgrades. If it meets all four, it’s a perfect base Relic worth investing in fully.

Starting Your Relic Journey: From Basics To Mastery

Once you understand the core role of main stats, the random nature of sub stats, and the synergy value of set bonuses, you’ve officially stepped into the world of build crafting in Honkai Star Rail. The Relic system looks complicated at first glance, but its core logic is clear and straightforward: you build the right character by giving them the right stats.

As you continue your journey exploring the Relic system, these basic concepts will be your solid foundation for judging gear value, planning your resource spending, and optimizing your character builds. Remember, a good start gets you halfway to success, and by learning these core concepts, you’re already on the right track to mastering Relic farming and building.